Fifth Birthday Parties are JUMPIN'!

Recently, JumpZone, a huge inflatable playplace, opened up a few minutes from us. Emma thought that this would be a great place to celebrate her birthday with her friends from school and church...And we couldn't agree more...The kids had a great time!

The party crew...Smiling (and sweaty) after jumping constantly for over an hour! (L-R Megan, Megan D, Micah, Noah, Caeley, Kaitlyn, EMMA, Christina, Sarah, John Robert, Douglas, Joy, Sam, Grey, and Mia)

Emma and her BFF Megan. Those girls are too cute!

Emma's "bestest" boy buddy, John Robert, quickly pausing to pose for the camera. He is such a sweet friend to Emma! He also has secret bodyguard abilities, as we discovered at McDonalds...

Emma and Mia...Sweet friends from 2 years of preschool together.

Megan...Being a cutie pie!

Even the big brothers had fun (Douglas - Megan's brother, Micah, and Noah - Joy's brother)

Princess of all things inflatable...and her birthday cake...Yum!

Emma and Joy sharing royal duties...They fit in that throne well together!

Princess Emma...Again!

Happy Birth(SNOW)day, Emma!

What a wonderful birthday celebration we enjoyed with Emma last Tuesday! After hearing rumors of snow coming, we woke up January 20 to a beautiful blanket of white flakes covering our yard. I know, I know, many of you northern folks have had your fill of snow this winter, but for us, snow on the ground was a breathtaking sight. Micah and Emma couldn’t gulp down their breakfast fast enough, as Geoff and I hurried up to the attic to see if possibly had any snow-appropriate coats or boots for them (and us) to wear! We hardly ever get snow here…and if we do, it just might be an inch or two. But as as the day progressed, we ended up with around 7 inches!


So, ALL four of us could be home ALL day to not only enjoy a leisurely celebration of Emma’s special day, but romp in the snow. Schools were closed and even Caterpillar was shut-down for the day!

What a precious treasure the Lord chose to give us in our little Emma. As I sit here reflecting on all that she means to our family, my mind wanders to the passage we chose as her “life verse” when she was born. Matthew 5:16 reads, “…Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” We chose this verse based on the meanings of her name…Emma (my mom’s middle name) means “caring” and Laine (short for Elaine – Geoff’s mom’s middle name) means “light.” Our prayer for her has always been that she will follow the legacy of her two grandmothers, being a girl who truly shines for the Lord, through the care and joy that she brings to others. On April 22 this past year, a huge prayer request on our hearts was answered when Emma came to understand her need for Jesus, and prayed to accept Him as her Savior.

So often we are humbled by her sensitivity to the moods and feelings of others. And in her world, “others” is not limited to people, but includes animals also. She has a deep caring love for all creatures, great or small. As I watch her interact with her friends who have been hurt, or comfortably approaching any (and I mean any) animal we may see outside, or the care she gives to her stuffed animal friends, I can’t help but wonder how God will use this little girl one day...and even right now, while she is so young.

Micah, Emma, and Rainbow...Emma's birthday present...She was surprised!

Her creative “bent” really began to shine through this year…expressing herself through anything artistic…with drawing being at the top of her list, and dancing a close second. Give Emma a stack of blank white paper and a box of sharpened colored pencils, and she will happily amuse herself for literally hours. She loves to create stories on stacks of stapled index cards. She illustrates and then tell me what to write on each page. We already have several unpublished manuscripts stacked away in her closet...Although she keeps asking when she can give them to the library for other kids to read!

Happy Birthday, our sweet girl. We love you BUNCHES, and are excited to see what is in store for you this year as you grow!

2008 Holiday Fun

I (Geoff) have been invited to catch up the blog with our family activities over the last couple months. It’s not that Amy has been slacking off, mind you; she has just been devoting her normal blog time to Facebook and many other important things ; ). I had originally intended to write this up over Christmas break, but didn’t buckle down to get it done until now. So without further ado, here is a quick recap of our adventures over the 2008 holiday season…

We decided to spend Thanksgiving vacation this year with Amy’s side of the family. Amy’s mom had just begun her chemo treatments at that point, and it was great to check in to see for ourselves how great she was doing! So we packed up the car to drive up to PA the Tuesday afternoon. Before we left that morning, Micah and his class had a Thanksgiving feast at school.

Here is Micah with his friend Carter at the feast where they dressed up as Native Americans.

From there, we left for PA. We made it in record time, only stopping twice for gas and food (I do not have an explanation as to how this happened and don’t expect it to ever happen again).

As you can see, we couldn’t resist a picture of the kids in their handmade Native American garb.

Micah and Emma had a blast (as usual) with their cousins, Maggie and Paul. They were always running around doing something exciting with their Webkinz, building with Legos, taking walks around the neighborhood, looking for Buffalo (an inside joke among the cousins), and playing the Wii.

This is one moment when all four slowed down long enough to get a picture together.

Once we returned from Thanksgiving, we enjoyed getting into full-swing for Christmas. Emma had a small starring role in the Fuquay-Varina Christmas parade when she rode on the Main Street Dance float.

Emma had the beauty-queen hand wave down pat!

Speaking of dance, Emma’s ballet/tap class put on a parent observation day right before Christmas break to show off their moves.

Look at that leap!

The second graders at Wake Christian put on a Christmas play this year and Micah worked very hard getting ready for his part. The play was based on the book, “The Three Trees” and he played the part of one of the wood cutters (which is why they are dressed as lumberjacks). Micah did a great job!

Micah the lumberjack!

The weekend before Christmas we made a quick trip up to VA to see Nana and Paw Paw. Mike and Jen and their boys also made it that weekend, as did Julie. We were glad to see everyone and to give the cousins a chance to play together.

Here are Emma and Sam playing on a giant turtle

Since attending Wake Chapel Church, it has become a Christmas tradition for Micah and Emma to take part in Nativity play on Christmas Eve. This year, Micah was a smiling shepherd boy and Emma was a sheep (she’s the one kneeling by the manger). Emma really got into her role, and even walked on her hands and feet as they left the stage.

After socializing at the McCreary’s Christmas Eve drop-in (another must-do for us Erbs), we headed home to get the little ones all tucked in their beds…

Although we didn’t wake to a “white Christmas,” the morning was full of excitement and fun…with two kids, how could it not be? Micah received some new games for the Wii that he had recently purchased (he had saved for over a year), and other gadgety things…just the kind of stuff he loves.

As for Emma, she was thrilled with anything pink, princessy, or artsy. And, we finally decided that it was time for her to have an American Girl doll of her own…Here she is with Kit. I’m not sure who was more excited about the doll, Emma or Amy!

For the rest of the holidays we stayed home— for the first time in many, many years. It was an enjoyable week between Christmas and New Year’s Day. We got to spend a lot of time playing together as a family and with friends. We also enjoyed inviting friends from church and work over for Christmas Day, New Years Eve, and other meals during the break. It was fun to slow down and have "time" to do these things...What a great way to wind up 2008!

Today is a significant day in my mom's journey to beat breast cancer. She will be receiving her first chemo treatment later this morning.

Although it has been just a few weeks since her diagnosis, what an incredible journey she has had so far, seeing glimpses (often big ones) of God's care for her. The Lord is so good! Many verses have come to our minds in the last few weeks. This path that He has chosen for my mom is a difficult one to be sure, but we are promised in His Word that He has gone before her (Isaiah 45:2). He promises to be her refuge (Psalm 46:1) and to provide her with peace that defies human comprehension (Philippians 4:7).

You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You. (Isaiah 26:3)

A few weeks ago, while my parents were here for a visit, we were aware that my mom had much on her mind. You see, she had recently discovered a couple of suspicious areas and had immediately reported her findings to her doctor. The day before they drove down to NC, she had undergone biopsies on those areas, and while they were here, she and my dad were awaiting the outcome report. It was actually not until they returned to PA that they received word that she did in fact have breast cancer.

Since that time, mom has been such an incredible witness of God's goodness in her life. The Lord has truly been her strength during this time of many tears and uncertainty. He has been faithful in providing her excellent medical care, and even allowing one of the doctors on her team to be a close friend and fellow Believer. We are praising the Lord, that despite being aggressive, that her cancer is treatable and is in the early stages. What an awesome God we serve that He would allow my mom to detect a problem when it could have easily gone undetected, even by a mammogram.

And so now, we pray...That my mom will continue to feel well and that the treatments will not be too difficult on her. We pray for the doctors, that they will seek wisdom from the ultimate Physician, that they will have great discernment, and be able to provide my mom with special care. And, we pray that ultimately, that the Lord be glorified through my mom's witness to those who travel this road with her...those in the medical profession, her church family...and our family...my dad, their children, and grandchildren.

I love what she recently wrote in a letter to her praying friends. “This is a new pathway for me and yet I am holding strong to the fact that I love and serve a God who is sovereign, who knows how to give good and perfect gifts to His children, and who has promised to be with me. I am experiencing His complete peace and comfort, even in the midst of tears. Often it is coming through people that He sends my way, as well as through Scripture and songs. I am testing His promises and finding that they are definitely true! My prayer is that the Lord is glorified in my life and that I will be a testimony of His faithfulness to those in the medical field who will be advising and caring for me.” And then, she added this verse: As for God, His way is perfect - Psalm 18:30.

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am you God. I will strengthen you and help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)

Fall Fun (That about sums it up!)

This Fall we have enjoyed some wonderful, and much needed family time.

Of course, to kick off the Fall season, we needed to get over to the pumpkin patch (or rather, the FV United Methodist Church field) for a few good pumpkins. We selected our favorites to decorate our doorstep, carve on Halloween-Eve, and of course, roast the yummy seeds!





In early October, what a blessing to have a visit from Grandpa and Grandma! It is always such a treat to have them here. We had a fun week of shopping (I waited until mom got here to visit Fuquay's new Kohl's for the first time), chatting, watching them spoil their grandkids, and watching presidential debates...

Shortly after Dad and Mom left, it was time for the NC State Fair! Micah had the day off from school the week of the fair, which worked out great so that we could go on a less busy weekday. We were able to meet up with friends, Noah and Joy, and we all had a great cotton-candy-eating-going-on-lots-of-rides time! Although that I realized that the cost of going to the fair for half a day was about the same as an entire day at Disney World...Those prices our outrageous! But hey, it is the fair afterall.

Micah not appreciating the scent of the poultry tent.

Emma and Joy about to take off on the kiddie coaster.

Micah and Noah wishing they had enough tickets for a "real" coaster.
Micah, "This is no Space Mountain."

Halloween was loads of fun this year. Not only did the kids go trick or treating, but we went to three Fall Festivals over the course of the weekend. For Halloween this year, Micah chose to be a detective again, while Emma had three costume changes this year...a (disgruntled) pumpkin for the preschool parade, a pink poodle named "Fifi" for trick or treating, and Sleeping Beauty for the neighborhood Fall Festival.

Emma in the preschool parade.

Heading out for some Trick or Treatin'

Hayride...For a John Deere Tractor, this was one wild ride!

Check out that overhand!

Micah tossing bean bags at the neighborhood Fall Festival.

Our Sleeping Beauty

So, now I've done it...I've finally brought this blog up to date! Yay!! I hope in the coming weeks to include more timely updates on what is happening in our family...actually writing down those funny things that the kids say, or posting those great pictures when they happen...not 3 months later! Thanks for bearing with me.

In the meantime, enjoy this wonderful Fall weather...I'm just hankerin' to bake an apple pie!

Our Sporty Kiddos

The last couple of weeks, our schedule has quieted down a bit, due to Fall sports wrapping up at the end of October. This was the first season that Emma was able to participate in the FVAA (Fuquay Varina Athletic Association) soccer league. And, Micah's first season of machine-pitch baseball. Although our evenings and weekends were busy, shuttling the kids between practice and games, but we sure enjoyed cheering our kids from the sidelines!

Here's a picture of Micah playing catcher. Although he didn't appreciate the dust in his face, he really learned to play this position well. Prior to playing machine-pitch, he had played a couple of seasons of t-ball, but really enjoyed the competitiveness of "real" baseball much better. He's already said he wants to play again in the Spring. By next Fall, he'll move up to "player-pitch" ball.

Do I look menacing, or what?

Emma played to the beat of her own little drum (or make that danced) when it came to soccer! Sometimes she would tear out on the field and get right into the game, but other times (most other times -- hee hee), she would flit and flutter around the field (usually humming), not paying a bit of attention to where the ball was or where she should be kicking it! But, her coach was great (and very patient with a bunch of 4-year olds), understanding that at this age, it's all about having fun!

CHARGE!

Victory Jump!

Disney Day 8 - Our Last Day of MaGiC

What a week it had been! Saturday morning dawned, and we sadly packed up the van and headed over to the Magic Kingdom for our last "hurrah!" We had certainly had a busy week, and were a bit tired, but it was a good kind of tired, you know?

Before we left the All Star Movies Resort, we took a few shots of the kids. I love how the close-ups turned out...complete with their ears!

We arrived well before the "rope drop," so we had plenty of time for the kids to collect Mickey "glitter" and play with the hula hoops scattered around.

Here the kids are standing in a Mickey created with Micky "glitter." Needless to say, this Mickey didn't stay intact for long...despite our kids' efforts to protect it!

Today's pace in the park was nice and leisurely, since we had done a lot of what we wanted to on our two previous days in MK. We had plenty of time to stop for photo ops and hit some of our favorite rides...Splash Mountain, Thunder Mountain Railroad, Goofy's Barnstormer, Mickey's Philharmagic, and Buzz to name a few.

Our one picture from the entire week with a Disney character!

Trying on hats...with ears, of course!

And, the final ride of our trip...Space Mountain! Micah had been waiting until the last day to ride this. He had to "build up" to it! Immediately after riding it, he gave it a "thumbs in the middle," but now he wants it to be the first thing he rides the next time we go!

So, there it is...Our family's first trip to Disney. What a wonderful week it was for us...Lots of great family together time...and many, many special (and funny) memories! We can't wait to go back again...